Orange Crush

Several North Catasauqua residents want the borough to fix or tear down the former Orange Crush bottling plant whose roof collapsed three weeks ago under the weight of snow and ice. Residents who live adjacent to the building at 1037 Sixth St. are worried about damage to their properties, and that pedestrians and children in particular could get hurt. About 15 residents expressed their concern at Monday night's council meeting. "It is a dangerous situation, and we're trying to get it resolved as quickly as we can," said Jack Jenkins, council president.

From two acres in Kutztown comes a fiery commitment to pesticide-free food production. Homesweet Homegrown in Kutztown creates sauces made from their own peppers grown on what were once fields of genetically modified corn. "A lot of people don't grow what they make," says Paul David, who founded Homesweet Homegrown with his wife, Robyn Jasko. "We grow the product and … it's literally grown with love. " That love translates into three vegan hot sauces made in Berks County.

Heavy snow and ice brought down the roof of another Lehigh County building yesterday. The entire roof of the former Orange Crush bottling plant at 1037 Sixth St., North Catasauqua, caved in about 1:30 p.m., Fire Chief Francis Hadik said. The soda company stopped using the building, which resembles a large barn, in the late 1970s, and its current owner was storing several antique cars and parts in it, Hadik said. "From what we could see, everything on the second floor was damaged," the fire chief said.

Football defenses have had some pretty memorable nicknames over the years - like Orange Crush, Crunch Bunch, Purple People Eaters, Steel Curtain. Offensive lines, not nearly so exotic. Hogs. Brad Bormann, who has started the last 17 games on the o-line at Lafayette, doesn't fit the stereotypical image you might get when you think of "hogs. " Last year, he compiled a 4.0 grade-point average in the fall semester. His overall GPA for three years is only slightly below that, and when he's not in the trenches at Fisher Stadium or in a biology classroom working toward his major, you might find him volunteering at the Easton Area Senior Center, where, he says, "Over time, I have made some really tremendous friends down there.

by BRADLEY SCHLEGEL (A free-lance story for The Morning Call) | June 29, 1999

Northampton rallied for four runs in the bottom of the seventh to clinch the Quakertown American Legion Shootout title late Sunday night. Matt Maziarz's single clinched a 13-12 victory over host Quakertown at Memorial Park Stadium. Trailing 12-9, the Orange Crush (8-6) took advantage of four hits off Quakertown reliever Jason Pedrick. Eric Ruff was hit by a pitch to force in a run. James Barnhardt's two-run single made it 12-12. Mariarz's two-out hit hit through the right side scored Ruff and set off a an Orange Crush celebration.

by BRADLEY SCHLEGEL (A free-lance story for The Morning Call) | June 27, 1997

The Northampton American Legion baseball team is adjusting to life without Eric Spadt. Joel Wedge, a Spadt admirer, did plenty Thursday to lead the Orange Crush past Madison Bank 4-0 in their Quakertown Shootout Tournament opener. "Eric really helped out a lot everywhere last year," said third baseman Wedge. "He did so much for us. He's one of the best players I've ever seen." He went 3-for-3, including a solo home run in the top of the seventh off losing pitcher Mike Brown. Northampton pitchers Gordon Kocher and winner Dan Lopez limited Madison Bank (12-8-1)

As he tried to regroup his troops following a 7-1 shellacking by Shillington yesterday in the American Legion Region 2 winners' bracket final, Northampton manager Joe Schneider was also searching for a way to stay alive and play another day. An avid golfer, Schneider reached into his bag and pulled out his pitching wedge. Joel "Pitching" Wedge, that is. Schneider selected Wedge to work the Orange Crush's elimination game against arch-rival The Birches, and the 17-year-old righthander responded with a two-hit gem and a 13-1 victory to move Northampton, the defending champion, into the final day of regional competition for the third time in four years.

by BRADLEY SCHLEGEL, (A free-lance story for The Morning Call) | June 26, 1998

Joe Schneider's frustration with his Northampton baseball team was further tweaked on Thursday. The Orange Crush continued leaving runners on base and playing sloppy defense in an 8-4 eight-inning loss to Claymont, Del., in a first-round game of the Quakertown American Legion Shootout Tournament. One night after stranding a dozen runners in a loss to the Birches, Northampton (8-5-2) stranded 14 runners and squandered several scoring opportunities. The Orange Crush, which returns to Quakertown Memorial Park Stadium at noon Saturday, also committed five errors that led to four Claymont runs.

by BRADLEY SCHLEGEL, (A free-lance story for The Morning Call) | June 30, 1997

Sloppy defense and the inability to hit Bellefonte's Brian Robbins cost Northampton the Quakertown American Legion Shootout Tournament Championship Sunday night. The Orange Crush allowed three unearned runs and managed just three hits in a 3-2 loss at Quakertown's Memorial Park Stadium. "Giving people runs is a tough way to play," said Jason Swankoski, Northampton's hard luck losing pitcher. "When you play a team as good as (Bellefonte) you can't afford that or you will lose." Swankoski deserved better.

From two acres in Kutztown comes a fiery commitment to pesticide-free food production. Homesweet Homegrown in Kutztown creates sauces made from their own peppers grown on what were once fields of genetically modified corn. "A lot of people don't grow what they make," says Paul David, who founded Homesweet Homegrown with his wife, Robyn Jasko. "We grow the product and … it's literally grown with love. " That love translates into three vegan hot sauces made in Berks County.

After Joe Paterno blew the whistle and cut practice short -- "Get off the field!" he screamed -- the captains called a players meeting to continue their coach's thought. "I've been on enough good teams," linebacker Sean Lee told the team. "I want to be on a great team." He's not on one yet, but what happened Wednesday either could move Penn State to become one -- or haunt it in the future. As 28-7 victories go, this one hardly was convincing. Penn State never appeared threatened by Syracuse but it also never truly seized control of the game.

LITTLE PIGGIES Ah, the hours of sacrifice, missing out on life experiences just to train for the Olympics. For these wannabes, it all starts shortly after birth, and with any luck, they will cross the finish line first -- whether it's on land or in the water. But you won't hear shouts of joy from the winners. Just this: "Oink!" Apparently, the recent "Pig Olympics" were a big hit in Shanghai, China, drawing large crowds, according to the Shanghai Daily newspaper. Associated Press photos showed the Thailand-raised miniature pigs "diving," swimming and jumping through hoops.

While most members of the Pates Women's Club are gearing up for the Greek Olympic team Monday night, Jenn Shellhammer has another gig that keeps her away. The former Central Catholic star will get a professional shot with the California Sunbirds today and Monday in the National Pro Fastpitch League. "I'd love to play against the Greek team, but I can't pass up this opportunity," Shellhammer said. "Jaime Wohlbach [a former Saucon Valley High, Kutztown University and Pates player now with the Sunbirds]

by BRADLEY SCHLEGEL (A free-lance story for The Morning Call) | June 29, 1999

Northampton rallied for four runs in the bottom of the seventh to clinch the Quakertown American Legion Shootout title late Sunday night. Matt Maziarz's single clinched a 13-12 victory over host Quakertown at Memorial Park Stadium. Trailing 12-9, the Orange Crush (8-6) took advantage of four hits off Quakertown reliever Jason Pedrick. Eric Ruff was hit by a pitch to force in a run. James Barnhardt's two-run single made it 12-12. Mariarz's two-out hit hit through the right side scored Ruff and set off a an Orange Crush celebration.

Last year's American Legion Region 2 and Pennsylvania state champion, Shillington, won't be at Bicentennial Park next week to defend its regional crown. But, thanks to a 5-2 victory over Northampton Tuesday night in an outdoor sauna called Boro Park, Nazareth, the 1997 regional runner-up, will be there to take another shot. A gritty but depleted Northampton (18-10-2) club shocked the defending Northampton County League titlist 6-2 Monday night to send their semifinal series to a third and deciding game.

by BRADLEY SCHLEGEL, (A free-lance story for The Morning Call) | June 26, 1998

Joe Schneider's frustration with his Northampton baseball team was further tweaked on Thursday. The Orange Crush continued leaving runners on base and playing sloppy defense in an 8-4 eight-inning loss to Claymont, Del., in a first-round game of the Quakertown American Legion Shootout Tournament. One night after stranding a dozen runners in a loss to the Birches, Northampton (8-5-2) stranded 14 runners and squandered several scoring opportunities. The Orange Crush, which returns to Quakertown Memorial Park Stadium at noon Saturday, also committed five errors that led to four Claymont runs.

Last year's American Legion Region 2 and Pennsylvania state champion, Shillington, won't be at Bicentennial Park next week to defend its regional crown. But, thanks to a 5-2 victory over Northampton Tuesday night in an outdoor sauna called Boro Park, Nazareth, the 1997 regional runner-up, will be there to take another shot. A gritty but depleted Northampton (18-10-2) club shocked the defending Northampton County League titlist 6-2 Monday night to send their semifinal series to a third and deciding game.

Home runs may hurt you once in a while. Walks will kill you every time. Nazareth's Ryan Fry took a walk on the wild side and Northampton simply took the walks as the Orange Crush strolled to a 10-5 victory over the top-seeded Blue and Gray Saturday in the opener of their best-of-three Northampton County Legion League semifinal series. Game 2 will be played at 5 p.m. today in Nazareth, with Game 3, if needed, at 5:30 p.m. Monday, also at Nazareth. Fry and lefty "EH" (extra hitter)